väistymään

Väistymään is a Finnish verb that translates to "to yield," "to give way," or "to make way" in English. It is commonly used in the context of traffic rules and regulations, where it dictates the obligation of a driver to allow another vehicle or pedestrian to pass first. For example, when approaching an intersection or a narrow road, a driver might need to väistyä for oncoming traffic or for someone already in the space.

Beyond traffic, the verb can also be used in more general situations to describe the act of stepping aside or moving out of someone's path to allow them to proceed. This could be in a crowded hallway, or metaphorically, in a discussion where one person yields their turn to speak. The imperative form, "väisty!" means "yield!" or "move aside!" and is a direct command to allow passage. Understanding väistymään is crucial for navigating Finnish traffic and social etiquette.